Chief Justice Vincent de Gaetano, who garnered 114 votes, has been elected to succeed Judge Giovanni Bonello as judge at the European Court of Human Rights.

He was one of three nominees put forward by the Maltese government. The other two nominees were Mr Justice Joseph Filletti, who received 23 votes and Madam Justice Abigail Lofaro, who received 61.

The government’s list of nominees was previously turned down for lack of a female among them, for the sake of gender equality.

Chief Justice de Gaetano was elected by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in a plenary session in Strasbourg yesterday. He will serve a term of office of 9 years, starting from the date of taking up office.